XF 23mm: “Damn, another winner” (Patrick La Roque) + “The Trend Continues” (Riley Joseph)

 photo XF23mm_zps939f54e0.jpg

Fujinon XF 23mm

USA: eBay / AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / Pictureline / DigitalRevEUROPE: AmazonUK (via DR) / eBay / DigitalRevwexcamerasDE / wexphotographicUK / PCHstore

1) “The balance, the size, the weight, the focusing, the build… Everything about this lens feels exactly right to me. Soul mates, baby. […] how does this 35mm compare to the X100s 35mm? Is this worth purchasing if you already own that camera? Is this worth switching to? Truth is there are and always will be compromises to be made. On the one hand you gain on speed (f1.4 vs f2) and you also gain on sharpness: the 23mm is seriously sharp wide open while the X100s is always a tad softer at f2 (although like everything else, this can be used as an advantage) BUT… You lose what the X100s is all about: size, stealth, total silence, sync speed. […] Unless I’m crazy, I think you’ll immediately understand what I mean. There’s something about this combo that quite simply gels. As I said in the first paragraph: damn. Another winner.” Read more about the Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 at laroquephoto here.

2) Riley Joseph shared via FR-twitter his review of the XF 23mm. Read it here: “The quality of Fuji optics are amazing. Especially for the price. Sometimes when I zoom in Lightroom to check focus it is unreal the detail the lens captures even wide open. That is the one big difference with the lens compared to the 23mm on the X100(s).. that it is sharper wide open.”

X-A1 vs. X-M1: Photo Ninja Edition

 photo Mastering_zps4a097260.png

Mastering the X-PRO1 and X-E1:

 BookKindle editionApple iBook

Fujifilm X-A1

USA: AmazonUS (black in stock)/ eBay / BHphoto (blue in stock)/ Adorama (black in stock)/ Pictureline / DigitalRev EUROPE: AmazonUK (via DR) DigitalRev / eBay

Fujifilm X-M1

USA: AmazonUS (save $72 on the silver version + kit lens) / BHphoto / Adorama / Pictureline / [shoplink 17242 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] ($70 price drop) / DigitalRev EUROPE: eBay / DigitalRev / AmazonDE (via DR) / wexcamerasDE / AmazonUK (via DR) / PCHstore

_ _ _

by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)Rico’s Flickr sets – X-A1 sample images set – X-M1 sample images set –  X-M1 vs. X-A1 shooutout set (private Flickr set, MUST use this link!)Original X-A1 & X-M1 shootout RAW files for download – Mastering the Fujifilm X-Pro1 reading samples (65 free pages) – Pre-order my very soon to be released NEW book: Mastering the Fujifilm X-E1 and X-Pro1

As expected, my little X-A1/X-M1 shootout has created some controversy over the weekend, at least among the pixel peeping crowd. Since neither the built-in RAW converters nor Adobe Lightroom are perfect choices for extracting maximum detail from a RAW file, it may be interesting to run our samples through alternative converters. Unfortunately, there’s still little RAW support for the X-A1, but Jim Christian of PictureCode was kind enough to create a special version of his widely discussed Photo Ninja converter.

Photo Ninja is a very interesting multi-platform RAW converter with powerful (and very smart) adaptive lighting, great noise reduction and, in its latest incarnation, preliminary X-Trans sensor support. Unlike Lightroom, Photo Ninja allows you to completely turn off luminance noise reduction, which is great for comparing different cameras and their sensors.

Photo Ninja Shootout Samples

Here’s our first image, rendered with Photo Ninja:

** CLICK HERE to Read the Rest of the Article **

X-Trans VS Bayer: Round 2! Riflessifotografici, dpreview and Matt’s feedback (vote the polls)

 photo jpg_zps729fa1c8.jpg

image courtesy: riflessifotografici

“[X-A1] users, likely coming from compact cameras, are used to vivid Jpegs, with little to no noise (it doesn’t matter if it’s washed out with a noise reduction algorithm) with high contrast and sharpened files.” Max Angeloni

X-A1

USA: AmazonUS (black in stock)/ eBay / BHphoto (blue in stock)/ Adorama (black in stock)/ Pictureline / DigitalRev EUROPE: AmazonUK (via DR) DigitalRev / eBay

_ _ _

Hey hey,

did you read the X-M1 vs X-A1 shootout of Rico Pfirstinger here? No? Then I recommend you to check it out and come back to this post later. It seems that we are just at the beginning of the X-Trans vs Bayer debate.

1) To compare the sensor performance we have to analyze the RAW images but also consider which RAW converter we use. As only LR5.2 supports the X-A1 until now, a real comparison using the same settings can only be made with the software of Adobe (which is honestly still not doing a great job with the X-Trans files. At the Ultimate Raw Converter Shootout of Rico for example, in both polls Iridient was better than Lightroom). But, what happens if you use for example Photo Ninja to process the X-Trans files?

2) It’s interesting to see also the different IQ of JPEG’s. In this case it’s all about the software and the different default settings Fuji chose to apply to the X-A1 and X-M1.

Now, I’ve found three more feedbacks about the X-Trans vs Bayer debate. The first comes from the well-known Italian review site Riflessifotografici, then there is an interesting forum thread at dpreview and finally Matt‘s Jpeg comparison (so in this case it has nothing to do with the sensor performance, but with the software engine). Read it all and vote the polls at the bottom of this post.

RIFLESSIFOTOGRAFICI

So let’s start with the first impressions of Max Angeloni (riflessifotografici) about the X-A1 here (English version). Max says that both, the X-Trans and the Bayer deliver great results, and that the X-A1 “has all the potential to be a best-seller in its segment“, but:

“I have to admit that I had hard times trying to put together all the impressions I got from the time spent with the camera. It’s always like that, one should use the camera for months, take thousands of shots and prints, to really understand the device and its behaviour. […] at a first glance, I really considered the possibility that this sensor could be even better than the hyped X-Trans from Fujifilm.

Reality is that I was wrong, and I just started to see this as soon as I started to push the camera to its limits, using it in the most difficult situations. […]

[X-A1] users, likely coming from compact cameras, are used to vivid Jpegs, with little to no noise (it doesn’t matter if it’s washed out with a noise reduction algorithm) with high contrast and sharpened files.

[…] People working or just shooting enough with one of the X-Trans cameras will recognize the differences between the sensors. […] Probably the X-A1 users won’t care about dynamic range, color depth, and so on…the camera has to provide sharp, vivid and popping jpeg, and that’s pretty much it…it doesn’t matter what it’s behind the lens, what’s inside the camera.

But hey, you can take awesome shots with both cameras, as Max shows you here (English version). Check it out and read more about the X-A1!

dpreview

Here is the second feedback. Until now only LR supports both, the X-A1 and X-M1 RAF files. But what if you process your images with, for example, Photo Ninja? A forum member at dpreview compared the X-E1 RAW’s (processed with PN) and X-A1 (processed with LR 5.2). Check this forum thread here.

image courtesy: inasir1971 at dpreview

Now, here are the results using only LR 5.2

 photo lr_zps0173f013.png

.
And now the results using Photo Ninja for the X-E1 and LR5.2 for the X-A1: “I have a far better result with X-E1 (Photo Ninja Raw converter ) With PN X-Trans have more fine details than Bayer. Finally.”

image courtesy: Fujix at dpreview

Photo Ninja vs Lightroom
 photo pn_zps3dd9e689.png

Matt’s JPEG comparison

Matt had the possibility to use the X-A1 in Singapore. Here are his impressions at youtube. He also made a comparison X-M1 vs X-E1 at youtube here… but as we know it’s “just” a jpeg comparison, so he doesn’t really compare the sensor performance. Anyway, Matt prefers by far the output of the X-E1.

You’ve checked it all? Then here are the polls.

enjoy your Sunday

 photo Patrick_zpse517a3cc.png

Should Fuji drop the 2/3 sensor X-series camera line?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Which images was taken with the Fujinon XF35mmF1.4?

Loading ... Loading ...

X-A1

USA: AmazonUS (black in stock)/ eBay / BHphoto (blue in stock)/ Adorama (black in stock)/ Pictureline / DigitalRev EUROPE: AmazonUK (via DR) DigitalRev / eBay

X-M1

USA: AmazonUS (save $72 silver body + kit lens) / BHphoto / Adorama / Pictureline / [shoplink 17242 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] ($70 price drop) / DigitalRev EUROPE: eBay / DigitalRev / AmazonDE (via DR) / wexcamerasDE / AmazonUK (via DR) / PCHstore

X-A1 vs. X-M1: the Shootout

 photo mastering_zps877477b0.png

 photo X-A1_zpsc7ed59fb.png
 photo X-M1_zpsa401e256.png

Mastering the X-PRO1 and X-E1: book here and Kindle edition (AVAILABLE) here)

Fujifilm X-A1 in stock check

USA: AmazonUS (black in stock)/ eBay / BHphoto (blue in stock)/ Adorama (black in stock)/ Pictureline / DigitalRev EUROPE: AmazonUK (via DR) DigitalRev / eBay

Fujifilm X-M1

USA: AmazonUS (save $72 on the silver version + kit lens) / BHphoto / Adorama / Pictureline / [shoplink 17242 ebay]eBay[/shoplink] ($70 price drop) / DigitalRev EUROPE: eBay / DigitalRev / AmazonDE (via DR) / wexcamerasDE / AmazonUK (via DR) / PCHstore

_ _ _

by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)Rico’s Flickr sets – X-A1 sample images set – X-M1 sample images set –  X-M1 vs. X-A1 shooutout set (private Flickr set, MUST use this link!)Original X-A1 & X-M1 shootout RAW files for download (incl. Lightroom XMP files) – Mastering the Fujifilm X-Pro1 reading samples (65 free pages) – Pre-order my very soon to be released NEW book: Mastering the Fujifilm X-E1 and X-Pro1

Edit: I have updated the shootout with Photo Ninja samples, please read this separate article.

Welcome to this weekend edition of X-Pert Corner! Comparing the X-A1 and X-M1 is pretty popular these days. Since the hardware of both cameras is pretty much identical, such comparisons usually boil down to an X-Trans vs. Bayer color filter array (CFA) pissing contest. Since we are on the Internet, it is a fact of life that much of what has been and will be written on this issue is inaccurate or just plain wrong, mostly due to flawed methodology. For example: Instead of comparing the output of different sensor CFAs, many “reviewers” are simply showing differences between the two cameras’ JPEG engine default settings.

DSCF2914 – Lightroom 5.2
X-M1

There are indeed visible differences between the X-A1’s and X-M1’s default JPEG processing: The X-A1 is targeting entry-level customers who prefer sharp, clean, brilliant, contrasty and noise-free JPEGs straight out of the box (at least that’s what Fuji thinks), and this preference is mirrored by the camera’s default JPEG engine calibration at its factory settings. In other words: With everything set to factory defaults, the X-A1 delivers sharper (aka more sharpened) results with a bit more contrast and stronger noise reduction than the X-M1. It is however possible (and advisable) to change the default JPEG settings in both cameras to achieve different results that are much harder to distinguish. This is where things become more interesting, but this is also where most “expert comparisons” come to a frustrating halt.

DSCF0991 – Lightroom 5.2
X-A1

In any real-world scenario, it is impossible to compare the performance of different sensor CFAs without processing the RAW images on which we want to base such a comparison. The processing can either be performed in-camera or with an external RAW converter. It is very difficult to remove this processing part from any sensor comparison equation, because different CFAs require different processing in order to achieve the same or at least similar results. Using identical RAW converter settings on comparable images from the X-A1 and X-M1 won’t do the job, quite to the contrary. In order to get comparable results, one has to apply different parameter settings that correspond to the unique qualities and properties if each sensor’s CFA.

DSCF0283 – Lightroom 5.2
X-A1

Please forget comparisons that are based on factory default settings of cameras and RAW converters. They are a waste of our time, because they won’t tell us how each camera performs with optimized real-world settings that most of us would choose to achieve specific precessing results, such as revealing “maximum detail”.

The Setup

In order to compare both cameras (and CFAs), I shot several different subjects in manual mode, each with exactly the same exposure settings and the same lens. This setup made sure that each camera’s sensor was exposed with the same amount of light, at least in theory. Practically, there may still be subtle brightness differences due to the fact that corresponding shots had to be taken in sequence (exchanging cameras and the lens on a tripod and reframing the shot could take a minute or two).

** CLICK HERE to Read the Rest of the Article **

XF 23mm review at thedigitaltrekker: “I gotta tell you this is a great piece of glass!” (in stock at DigitalRev)

 photo XF23mm_zps939f54e0.jpg

Fujinon XF 23mm

USA: eBay / AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / Pictureline / DigitalRev (IN STOCK)- EUROPE: AmazonUK (via DR) / eBay / DigitalRevwexcamerasDE / wexphotographicUK / PCHstore

 photo xfinstock_zps8b0cd4ad.png

_ _ _

Matt’s XF 23mm review (pre-production sample) is now online at thedigitaltrekker here:

“I gotta tell you this is a great piece of glass.[…] This lens is sharp. Maybe even as sharp of the XF 35mm f/1.4 and that lens is crazy sharp. Without shooting some high tech scale, this lens seems sharp all through the aperture range. And yes, even at f/1.4! […] The value for this quality of a lens at $900 is fair, maybe even good.”

X-E1 + 18-55 deal

It seems that many people doesn’t care about the X-E2, as the X-E1 deal is selling very well at AmazonUS. Check out the ranking here! (X-E1 in 4th and 6th position). Save $200 at AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / Pictureline

X-A1 in stock check

USA: AmazonUS (black in stock)/ eBay / BHphoto (blue in stock)/ Adorama (black in stock)/ Pictureline / DigitalRev EUROPE: AmazonUK (via DR) DigitalRev / eBay

 photo X_zpsdcf02113.png